Filthy and verminous premises

What can we do?

Environmental Health Officers will carry out investigations and, where appropriate, may serve legal notices requiring owners to clean filthy premises and to destroy any vermin. (The Public Health Act 1936 gives councils the power to deal with cleansing filthy and/or verminous premises).

If Notices are not complied with the Council can employ contractors to carry out the required works to clean the property and/or destroy the vermin.

What is filthy and/or verminous?

Filthy - usually means there is rotting food, human or animal excrement inside the property

Verminous - means the property is infested with pests such as rats, mice, fleas or houseflies

These powers can not be used to deal with 'cluttered' or untidy houses, rubbish in gardens etc.